Browse Through Our Archive
29 October 2008
British Pacific Properties Contributed $1 Million to McGavin Field
District of West Vancouver Media Release | 29 October 2008 | PDF
25 March 2008
British Properties Plans Expansion
Vancouver Sun | 25 March 2008 | PDF
20 March 2008
Rodgers Creek Plan Unveiled
The Outlook | 20 March 2008 | PDF
January 2008
From the Penthouse to the Acreage, This Year’s Market Has It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | January - February 2008 | PDF
November 2007
From Recreational Paradises to Your Own Urban Oasis, These Developments Have It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | November 2007 | PDF
26 April 2007
The Aerie at British Properties Raises the Bar for Luxury Townhome Residences on the North Shore
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
13 January 2007
Townhouses a First for British Properties
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
19 November 2004
Salmon Return Prospects Improving on North Shore Streams
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
29 October 2008
British Pacific Properties Contributed $1 Million to McGavin Field
District of West Vancouver Media Release | 29 October 2008 | PDF
25 March 2008
British Properties Plans Expansion
Vancouver Sun | 25 March 2008 | PDF
20 March 2008
Rodgers Creek Plan Unveiled
The Outlook | 20 March 2008 | PDF
January 2008
From the Penthouse to the Acreage, This Year’s Market Has It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | January - February 2008 | PDF
November 2007
From Recreational Paradises to Your Own Urban Oasis, These Developments Have It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | November 2007 | PDF
26 April 2007
The Aerie at British Properties Raises the Bar for Luxury Townhome Residences on the North Shore
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
13 January 2007
Townhouses a First for British Properties
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
19 November 2004
Salmon Return Prospects Improving on North Shore Streams
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
29 October 2008
British Pacific Properties Contributed $1 Million to McGavin Field
District of West Vancouver Media Release | 29 October 2008 | PDF
25 March 2008
British Properties Plans Expansion
Vancouver Sun | 25 March 2008 | PDF
20 March 2008
Rodgers Creek Plan Unveiled
The Outlook | 20 March 2008 | PDF
January 2008
From the Penthouse to the Acreage, This Year’s Market Has It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | January - February 2008 | PDF
November 2007
From Recreational Paradises to Your Own Urban Oasis, These Developments Have It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | November 2007 | PDF
26 April 2007
The Aerie at British Properties Raises the Bar for Luxury Townhome Residences on the North Shore
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
13 January 2007
Townhouses a First for British Properties
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
19 November 2004
Salmon Return Prospects Improving on North Shore Streams
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
29 October 2008
British Pacific Properties Contributed $1 Million to McGavin Field
District of West Vancouver Media Release | 29 October 2008 | PDF
25 March 2008
British Properties Plans Expansion
Vancouver Sun | 25 March 2008 | PDF
20 March 2008
Rodgers Creek Plan Unveiled
The Outlook | 20 March 2008 | PDF
January 2008
From the Penthouse to the Acreage, This Year’s Market Has It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | January - February 2008 | PDF
November 2007
From Recreational Paradises to Your Own Urban Oasis, These Developments Have It All
Western Living Magazine, Hot Properties | November 2007 | PDF
26 April 2007
The Aerie at British Properties Raises the Bar for Luxury Townhome Residences on the North Shore
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions....
British Pacific Properties, April 26, 2007 – After a long wet winter and much market anticipation, British Properties has now opened the presentation centre for its latest luxury offering on the slopes above the Upper Levels Highway in West Vancouver. The Aerie, as the project is known, is a luxury townhome project and the first of its kind for the fabled North Shore developer.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
For the first time in its 75-year history, the company that built the Lions Gate Bridge is constructing something other than the top-end single-family estate homes that West Vancouver’s British Properties neighbourhoods are known for around the world.
Boasting the same breathtaking signature views over English Bay as its traditional mansions, a new generation of British Pacific luxury homes is taking shape in the form of two penthouse-style townhome developments – each limited to eight large and luxuriously appointed townhomes priced from $2 million.
The result, says BPP President James McLean, is a new style of luxury mountainside living. “We are bringing all the craftsmanship, all the amenities, all the finishing materials and designer fixtures that underlie the quality in our single-family homes, and putting it without reservation or compromise into these townhomes.”
In addition to secured personal parking and private elevators (some plans), each townhome will have zone controlled air conditioning, built in media rooms, huge outdoor “living rooms”, some with their own fireplaces and the latest technology for energy efficiency and communications. The Aerie will also feature environmentally friendly green technology including rain water recycling for irrigation, low VOC materials and a ground sourced heating system.
Each eight-unit building will be placed on a huge 74,000 square-foot lot, allowing the owners to enjoy a large estate garden with professional maintenance, or the ability to garden part of it themselves.
According to McLean, this format will meet an increasing demand from traditional West Vancouver buyers for a smaller - but not small - home, for greater security than a single-family home can provide when the owners travel, and for the aging-in-place convenience of private elevators within the living spaces as well as to parking.
The Aerie is located above Collingwood private prep school in British Pacific’s new Taylor’s Lookout neighbourhood. Individual townhomes will range in size from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet. “With only eight townhomes in each development,” McLean points out, “the strata council is not going to be a remote authority but a real association of neighbours.”
The market has been receptive to this product and s everal of the townhomes are already spoken for, McLean said. For more information, please visit the British Properties website at www.britishproperties.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Pottinger, 604-801-5008, 604-649-0250 (cell), apottinger@telus.net
13 January 2007
Townhouses a First for British Properties
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
The Vancouver Sun, West Coast Homes, 13 January 2007 — There goes the neighbourhood! For the first time ever, attached homes will be constructed in the high-end British Properties in West Vancouver. The eight Aerie townhouses are a test for British Pacific Properties management, the top man at the company reports; a test not of its ability to insert big homes into a Pacific Northwest mountainside, honed over 75 years, but of its ability to divine new-home trends.
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
"We hope it will become a prototype of what we'll do in the future," James McLean said in an interview. "We intend to do a series of these buildings."
Luxuriously finished and appointed, cluster-residency appealing to monied empty-nesters is the future, he says. Environmentally friendly construction is also the future, he says. While the product might be new, its parts or components will reflect British Pacific Properties luxury-home traditions, a certainty the location of our interview drove home, the show home of a single -family-detached development BPP calls Taylor's Lookout.
The 3,500-square -foot show home sells for about $2 million.
"We're trying to build in effect a manor house with eight townhouse suites within it," McLean says. BPP expects to complete construction of the first Aerie building sometime in 2008. Once six of the eight homes sell, McLean says, the company will begin construction on another eight-home Aerie.
Building 1 will be located on a two-acre treed lot, metro Vancouver, the Inner Harbour, English Bay and the Strait of Georgia below and beyond. Three two-storey townhouses will located on the first two floors of the concrete building. Three one-storey townhouses will be located on the third floor. Two penthouses, about 950 feet above sea level, will be located on the fourth floor.
Patios will be "enormous," McLean promises. One sample floorplan for a 2,356-square -foot home on the third -floor includes 2,802 square feet of balcony space. There will be plenty of space for "growing a rose garden," he says, or other leisurely pursuits like gazing at top -notch views.
"These are probably the best views we've ever offered, and no doubt they're the best views in Canada," says McLean.
Why change product after 75 years of single -family-detached success? "There's a couple of things," McLean says. "The market is getting more mature." People want different things as they age, he says, and the average resident in West Vancouver is about 60 years old.
"Many [older people] want smaller accommodation but they want to live in their neighbourhood where they raised their families," he says.
The townhomes will be equipped with private elevators, accessible from a private car garage entrance for ease of life.
"When you drive into your parkade - you have a private garage with your own roll -down door which is part of your condominium strata - and you get out of your car and you get into your elevator which is entirely yours. It goes to the other floors in your suite," he says.
He says this means a buyer can move in and feel comfortable to grow older in their user-friendly home.
"If you're talking about a senior citizen and you're worried that within 10 years you won't be able to handle stairs - and anyone with knees like mine knows what I'm talking about - then, you've got no problem aging in place."
It's also easier to live in a townhome where the yard work is taken care of, maintainance is easy and security is tight. Empty -nesters and retirees can simply lock up and go, he says.
Most of their potential buyers probably live in the well - to-do community, nicknamed West Van, and don't want to move downtown.
"They want to stay in West Vancouver. They're familiar with it," he says. "There's a distinct community here."
The municipality has it's own police force and its own bus system. It gets most of its revenue from property taxes - generous homes are common - and according to The Greater Vancouver Book, West Van residents read more library books and earn more per capita than any other Canadians.
Over the years, British Pacific Properties has played a significant role in shaping the community, housing at least 4,500 families in the area to date, says McLean.
"The brand means stability, trust and quality," says McLean.
It all started with a dark, rich Irish beer. During the Depression the Guinness family bought 4,700 acres for development on the West Vancouver mountainside. They also constructed the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938, transferring ownership to the provincial government in the 1950s. And they built Park Royal mall in 1950, the first regional centre of its kind in Canada.
McLean says they currently have enough property available for 50 more years of development.
As for the future of the area, not only does he anticipate more multi-family developments, like The Aerie, he also sees green building as key, also driven by market demand.
"We feel people in the upper end of the market want to feel good about the environment. And we're striving for that in the future," McLean says.
With The Aerie, he says, they are aiming to meet Leed's Gold equivalent for environmental efficiency, a challenge for such a small- scale project.
"We're trying to get as close to Leed's gold as we can," says McLean. "I don't think there are any small projects who have done that before - I'd like to hear if they have."
They're also considering the feasibility of geothermal heating and cooling elements, he says. Site plans include creek protection areas and the re-introduction of native species planting to disturbed areas. All site paving has to be made from pervious materials and a system will be implemented to capture roof run-off through cisterns for use in irrigation of terrace planters.
They'll also use a green roof over the lobby spaces and natural cross-ventilation to improve indoor air-quality.
Inside the homes Sub-Zero and Miele appliances will be energy -efficient. Toto brand toilets will be dualflush to conserve water. Paint is eco-friendly by Benjamin Moore.
Green materials affected how the homes will look and feel, says The Aerie's interior designer, Cheryl Broadhead, a principal of Bob's Your Uncle. The local design company, known as BYU, was nominated as part of House and Home Magazine's 2006 "20 hot contenders to watch."
Buyers will be able to choose from two colour palettes - one medium with beige tones, the other light with taupe and grey - and can expect natural materials like wood and stone to factor in the look of the interior, Broadhead says.
"There are interesting textures but it's still quite clean feeling," Broadhead says.
The concrete exterior will also have a good deal of rock finishing. The stones are cut from the BPP's own quarry on the mountain, says McLean.
The surrounding two-acre property will be left as forested as possible, says McLean. In the building plan, construction is set to cover about 20 percent of the total site.
The natural setting is stunning, says McLean, gesturing to the ocean views and pointing out numerous hiking trails nearby.
Even though they haven't begun full-scale marketing of the Aerie yet, he says, people have begun to express interest.
"What surprises me in the market place is the demand for luxury products is huge, absolutely huge," he says.
"We have an excellent business climate for the foreseeable future. This allows people in every spectrum of life to aspire to their lifestyle. We haven't seen this for at least 15 years in B.C."
So what does he expect The Aerie will do for the BPP?
"We hope to prove in our market - we hope to sell to the profile of people we've targeted to - and this will test our system," says McLean. "From that, it's a bit of a laboratory. We hope to move to developing that market niche on a lot of our other properties."
Is he worried about testing a new market? He shakes his head confidently and responds simply: "Nope."
19 November 2004
Salmon Return Prospects Improving on North Shore Streams
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the De....
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., November 19, 2004 — A public-private partnership between two levels of government, a non-profit environmental organization, and a property development company is steadily helping more salmon return to higher areas and spawn in the mountain streams of West Vancouver.
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828
Assisted by a team of volunteer West Vancouver Streamkeepers and students from Mulgrave School, North Vancouver MP Don Bell - representing the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans - and West Vancouver Councillor Bill Soprovich planted native vegetation along the bank of McDonald Creek to complete construction of a new salmonid
rearing pool.
Don Bell, MP, stated, “it’s exciting to see governments, community groups, and corporations working together to enhance the salmon habitats on the North Shore which are such a key ingredient of our vibrant eco-system.”
Major funding for the construction was provided by British Pacific Properties under the no-netloss provisions of the Fisheries Act and as a community benefit flowing from the company’s development program higher up the mountain. British Pacific Properties provided additional funding in conjunction with the Pacific Salmon Foundation for the planting materials installed by the West Vancouver Streamkeepers.
Together with future planned downstream restoration, the new rearing habitat should permit pacific salmon to increase productivity and return higher in this creek than they have for the past fifty years.
“This is a great common-sense way to help rebuild our salmon streams without an excessive burden on the taxpayer,” Said British Pacific Properties Vice President Walter Thorneloe. “Now our children will be able to see the salmon returning as their grandparents did.”
British Pacific Properties has been engaged with West Vancouver Streamkeepers, the Coho Society of the North Shore and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in this type of restoration across West Vancouver for the past 10-15 years, including an ambitious restoration project at Hadden Creek that provided access for salmon upstream of the Upper Levels Highway for the first time in nearly 30 years.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Pottinger
Community Relations
British Pacific Properties
604-649-0250
Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society
604-922-7828